The µ43 thread - welcome to the really dark side

King4aDay

King4aDay

King4aDay

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So, basically just to annoy Phate because it was his idea, and seeing as there seem to be a few individuals of good taste on here now invested in the system, I'm making an ********OFFICIAL******** thread for micro four thirds chat.

I have no actual content to add, other than a shot I forgot to post earlier from my recent Eigg trip.

eigg_29_by_hairytoes-d7ggkuo.jpg

E-M5, Olympus 9-18 and B+W 10 stop ND.
 
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Pookie Bear said:
Great photo! What camera are you using?

Hopefully I'll have my new camera for the weekend (Panasonic GX7) and my new lens by redemption (Panasonic 20mm 1.7 II) not long after. Off to Mexico on my honeymoon in a couple months, so should have some good pics of some amazing landscapes when I get back! :)
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E-M5 with the 9-18. The GX7 and 20mm should be a great combo. The 20 produces really lovely images and is tiny, the only downside is relatively slow focus really - it's a shame they couldn't improve it with the mk2.
 
I really like the handling on the G series - Panasonic's twisty-flippy screens in particular are much better than Olympus' flip out implementation. I do find the mini-SLR styling a little bulky though, so I also had a GF/GX body for casual use when I was still using my GH2.
 
Phate said:
:D

Not quite sure what I've done recently to gain so much love from you all but I appreciate it all the same!

I think.... :p


Anyway, to actually build on the thread, is there a recommended replacement for the stock Oly 14-42?

I wouldn't mind something a bit wider and faster, I feel dirty shooting at f/3.5 :p
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Wider and faster = $$$

Olympus 12-40 2.8 or Panasonic 12-35 2.8 are the options here.

Not faster, but the Oly 12-50 and Panny 12-32 might be worth thinking about, although they're quite different. The 12-50 is larger but has weather sealing, a useable semi-macro mode, an extra function button, electronic zoom for video and is dirt cheap second hand. It got a bit maligned on releas but I really quite like mine as a jack of all trades. 2mm wider, but still slow. The 12-32 is pancake sized and sharp, but still slow and there aren't many about because it's pretty new, although you could maybe buy one bundled with a GM1 for about £400 from HDEW and sell the GM1.
 
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Nice set, the golden temple shot is a cracker, ha.

Somewhat off topic but I'm considering finally indulging my foveon craving and swapping my (backup) GX1 and 14mm for a DP1 Merril. Second hand prices are pretty similar and they cover the same focal length. I normally use the GX1 +14mm combo for when I just want to chuck something in a pocket, and I'd still have the E-M5 for low light and wideangle work, although I'd then be without a fast prime to use with it.

To be honest the GX1 hasn't seen a lot of use because it isn't really substantially smaller than the E-M5.

Hmm.
 
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Pookie Bear said:
Those of you with CSC, what bag do you use?

I'm looking for something small, but crucially I'd prefer something in a sling format which is quite close to the body/secure and also free to move around my body (from front to back, for example) for access. Seeing as I only have my kit lens for now and a 20mm pancake on the way, I don't have a lot of kit, so space for an extra card and a battery should be fine.
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I bought a Chinese Maxpedition Fatboy clone for about a tenner on ebay. Not terribly trendy but lots of little pockets for bits n bobs and plenty of space in the main pocket for a CSC and a couple of smaller lenses. I also got a Jumbo version for £20 which will happily take two bodies, a couple of extra lenses and a travel tripod for when I have all my gear with me.

I'm sure there will be any number of swankier options!
 
Sorry for abandoning this thread, been through two house moves in the last month and now stuck in decorating purgatory.

Spotted a pair of fairly spectacular lunar hornet moths this morning though. The 12-50 does surprisingly well in macro mode for the odd record shot like this I think -

em500105_by_hairytoes-d7okzuf.jpg


em500092__2__by_hairytoes-d7okzvh.jpg
 
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Phate said:
Guys I want a remote shutter for my EPL5, but I want one that I can set to say, take 10 second exposures for 3 hours etc.

Any suggestions?

Also it has to be wireless!
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/JJC-Multi-Function-compatible-Description-Compatibility/dp/B002BFDL8U

Maybe? Haven't used it myself. I'm sure there must be others.

Oh wait, not wireless. Duh

This one then - http://www.ebay.co.uk/csc/i.html?_f...nel+giga+t+pro+ii+olympus&LH_Complete=1&rt=nc
http://www.hahnel.ie/contentFiles/products/pdfs/brochures/RemotesGigaT2 A4-21-12-13.pdf

Dunno why I'm doing your googling for you again Phate :p
 
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bsoltan said:
I have had a read through this thread and the compact discussion here: Best Compact/CSC For ~£400 .

I'm looking to make the change from a DSLR, I have had a D70s for years and have pretty much given up lugging it around unless it is a specific trip in the car.

I'm going on holiday for four weeks in December and want something lighter and more compact for landscapes, cityscapes etc.

I've had a good read through the thread and the Olympus E-PL5 does seem quite good for the money. Just wondering if there have been any changes in the µ43 game recently and anything else worth looking at?

Currys are still doing this deal: OLYMPUS PEN E-PL5 DZK Compact System Camera with 14-42 mm + 40-150 mm II R Lens for £350.

I'd then get rid of my D70s and my Canon Ixus.

edit1; Wifi would be really good but it is doubling the price of cameras to an EP5 or GX7. :(

edit2; Oh or an E-PL7.
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You can get that down to £332 at Currys using code CSDSLR5 apparently. Probably still the best m43 deal around, you might want to add one of the fastish small primes for low light/pocketableness. The Panny 14mm 2.5 springs to mind.
 
wez130 said:
I intend on buying an ultra wide (7-14 i think) in the future, and also the 60mm macro as lack of macro is quite frustrating so far (unless there is a way to use some form of macro on it, i really haven't had much chance to play yet.)
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For a cheap interim macro option you might like to consider swapping the 14-42 for the 12-50 kit lens, which has a fairly useable semi-macro mode, optional power zoom and slightly more flexible focal range, albeit at the expense of being somewhat larger. Otherwise the 60mm is brilliant, by all accounts.
 
Very nice crackerman. I tried a similar thing a while ago on Bodmin Moor but managed to pick a totally overcast evening. This was a 5 min exposure and still horribly underexposed. Had to abort due to incoming rain.

rough_tor_1_by_hairytoes-d6zrf28.jpg
 
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